In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of Day Eighteen of the war at Kurukshetra. A depleted Kaurava army is taking on an equally depleted Paandava army after seventeen days of intense battles. All of them are tired of fighting for such a long time and King Shalya leads the Kaurava army this time, in the absence of Karna. Within just hours of the battle commencement, King Shalya is killed by Yudishtra and with this, the Kaurava army starts running amock here and there with a lot of confusion. At this time, Sage Kripachaarya approaches Duryodhana to convince him for a peace pact with Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna atleast now, before it becomes too late. Sage Kripachaarya explains to Duryodhana clearly that it is impossible for the Kaurava camp to defeat the five Paandava brothers because they possess the “Deiva-Balam” in the form of Bhagawan Krishna. Whereas, this is absent completely in the Kaurava camp and this is the reason behind extremely powerful people like Karna, Bhishmachaarya and Guru Dhronachaarya biting the dust! Sage Kripachaarya warns Duryodhana that he is the only one legal heir left alive at this moment as his ninety-nine brothers have died. If Duryodhana also has to die, there will be nobody to succeed the Hastinapura kingdom after King Dhritarashtra! Highlighting all these important points, Sage Kripachaarya wants Duryodhana to relent atleast now, and broker peace with Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna.
Now as Sage Kripachaarya advises him thus, Duryodhana is silent for a few moments! He doesn’t know what to reply! On one hand, Sage Kripachaarya is a very senior “Maharishi” who is fighting for his cause and hence, he cannot straightaway reject his words. On the other hand, whatever Sage Kripachaarya says is true. His words are golden pieces of advice. So what does Duryodhana do here? Is he going to relent from his stance atleast now? As Duryodhana is silent for a moment, Sage Kripachaarya thinks that this is a good opportunity for Duryodhana to understand the gravity of the situation. After a few minutes of silence, Duryodhana composes himself and says thus, “Oh Sage Kripachaarya! Whatever you’re saying doesn’t seem too appealing to me! If I go and broker peace with Yudishtra now, all of them who are dead right now might be happy. However, this act would constantly keep pricking my conscience. Oh Sage Kripachaarya! You’re saying that all these people who are dead, will be happy if I rule the kingdom by brokering peace with Yudishtra. But I feel otherwise – Had I brokered peace with Yudishtra on Day One itself, none of them would have died, isn’t it? Now that I did not do the peace brokering then and if I’m going to do it now, all those people who are dead will see me as an opportunistic individual, won’t they? All of them will feel that Duryodhana made all of us die and finally he became the king at the last moment, without having the guts to face the battle against Yudishtra and Co.! My conscience also will prick me in this way, saying that I’ve unnecessarily given all my brothers, friends and relatives in sacrifice to become a king! Thus, Oh Kripachaarya! I understand what you’re saying too! I agree with your words. However, think from my perspective as well – If I broker peace now, the world will view me as an opportunistic person who is merely hungry for power and nothing more! People will say that Duryodhana can do anything and everything to grab power! I do not want to live with this name in this world!”
Saying thus, Duryodhana continues further with a very important confession – “Oh Sage Kripachaarya! Having said thus, please do not think that I’m ignoring your words. I know that you’re advising me on the right path. But now it is too late! If I look back at what I’ve done in my past, all those incidents are haunting me now. On that fateful day when the gambling game was played, I cheated Yudishtra. Ducchaasana pulled Draupati by her hair to the centre of the courtroom! He even went to the extent of molesting her in public! Draupati cried helplessly! Her cries haunt me today! I tried to burn down the Paandavas in the “Laaksha Griham” and that fire is now burning me down! I tried to kill Bheemasena with poison, and now that poison is coming and haunting me! Abhimanyu was killed in an “Adharmic” way by all of us on the battlefield a few days ago when he was completely weaponless. All of us teamed up to attack Abhimanyu from his back, which was against “Yuddha-Neethi”. All of us beat him down his waist, which is against “Yuddha-Neethi”. All these instances are coming back to my memory and haunting me! Hence, Oh Kripachaarya! After doing all these blunders in my life, I do not want to live in this world any further! I repent for all my mistakes. The best way to go about it from now on is to continue the fight and get killed in this battle. After losing all my relatives, friends and brothers, there is no point in ruling this Hastinapura kingdom anymore! Hence, I’m firm in my stance that I’ll continue to fight this war, even though I know that I’m going to be killed. Let it happen!”
Saying thus, Duryodhana sheds tears to Sage Kripachaarya. Till now we’ve seen the “Samkshepam” of how Day Eighteen proceeded forward. But now, before we go into the marquee battle, we shall first witness what happened to King Shalya and how he was killed. We shall commence this discussion in detail in the next episode! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 